SANFORD — Sanford residents are now allowed to keep chickens on their property for non-commercial purposes – for the next six months at least.

The Journal Tribune reports that the city council recently approved the ordinance by a 6-1 margin.

The ordinance allows residents in non-rural areas to keep up to six hens for a $25 permit. The chickens must be kept in an enclosure or fenced-in area at all times and additional permitting is required to build a chicken coop or henhouse.

Enclosures must be kept “in a neat and sanitary condition at all times” in a manner that will not disturb neighbors with odor or noise.

The law will be reviewed in six months to identify any problems.